The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-03-18
SCIENTIFIC FACTS.
What the Searchers Into Science Find
For the People.

ana CarnlSn, anu mas no Ddu Snlell.
Steel plates in the fire box, it is said,
can be prevented from cracking by
washing out with cold water after be-
ing blown out. Hot water will have
contrary effect and produce crack.
An electric spark in dusty atmo-
sphere causes dust to settle, and, if the
air be smoky, clears it. This i, prob
ably one reason why the air seems so
clear after a thunderstorm, eveniflittle
rain has fallen.
One of the vegetable specimens at the
Colonial Exhibition in London was
portion of gigantic arbor vitae grow
ing in British Columbia. The tree is
wenty-one feet in circumference and
two hundred and fifty feet in height.
Following the example of the United
States, the japanese are to adopt a sys-
tenn of standard time, beginning with
the year 1888. The time of the merid-
ian of 1875 degrees east longitude will
be the time for the whole of Japan.
The recent volcanic eruption in New
Zealand has not proved an unmitigated
evil. The dust which was thrown out
so abundantly exerts most fertilizing
influence upon the soil where it fell, or
to which it has since been applied.
1t appears that there is liability to
injury of the eyes where the electric
light IS used, by reason of the illumina-
tion being too weak. This dangeris
apt to arise in readingrooms. 1t has
led areading society at Zurich to aban-
don the use of electric glow lamps.
There are now more than two thou
sand species and varieties of woody
plants in the botanical garden known
as the Arnold Arboretum. which be-
longs to Harvard University. 1t is
richer in species than any other collec-
tion of living plants in the United
States
A story about the Bell Telephone pat
ents having been offered to Senator
Cameron at mere nominal price, early
in the history of the invention, has been
going the rounds of the press. 1t was
mentioned to the SENATOR when in New
York, when he said: "There is not
word of truth in it. never spoke to
Mr.. Bell in my life, and scarcely know
him by sight. although he lives near me
at Washington"
To cement wood and glass together,
mix some finely-pulverized, well dried
zinc-White with clear copal varnish, in
such quantities as to produce half
liquid preparation. Spread this over
the parts to be cemented. and it will be
found that they will be jointed firmly
together. This cement has the advan-
tage over many others in that it does
not injure the most brightly polished
oak wood and will bear the test of wash
ing with warm water
There has been published. in Germ
any, the narrative of an expedition sent
out from that country last year to ex-
plOre the German territories in south
western Africa between the Orange
River and Waltish Bay The results are
extremely unsatisfactory. The party
were to ascertain what useful minerals,
animals and plants the country con-
tanned. The answer is, practically none
There is no rain, and there is scarcely
any drinking water. All ideas of eStab-
fishing colony there must be aban-
doned.
"Invention" describes a new patent for
rendering wood incombustible, in which
the wood is first well dried and after
ward impregnated with a solution of
about four parts, by weight. of borax
and about three parts, by weight, of ep-
som salts in about twenty-parts, by
weight, of hot water. The impregnated
wood is coated with a mixture of hot
clay and sufficient quantity of liquid
water-glass to enable the mass to be
applied by means of apaint-brush. The
wood, having again become dry, is COW
cred with paper or with woven fabric,
the latter having likewise been impreg-
mated with the solution. Lastly, the
whole is painted over with mixture
OF from thirty to forty parts, by weight,
Of sulphate of amonia, and from thirty
five to forty-five parts, by weight, of
gypsum, diluted with sufficient guam
Nfx aAo